Shrimp Cocktail with Singapore Hot Sauce

Susan Feniger likes to quickly simmer raw shrimp in broth or saute them with garlic and ginger, but you can certainly use precooked shrimp to save time. This sweet-and-spicy sauce was inspired by the ones Feniger sampled at street stalls throughout Singapore.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 medium red onion, thinly sliced

3/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh ginger

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1 1/4 cups ketchup

1/4 cup Chinese chile bean sauce

Lemon wedges, for serving

4 pounds cooked large, tail-on shrimp, chilled

Instructions

In a saucepan, heat the oil. Add the onion and cook over moderately high heat until lightly browned, 4 minutes. Add the ginger and cook over moderately low heat until softened, 3 minutes. Add the sugar, ketchup and chile bean sauce and simmer over low heat until the sauce is thickened, 5 minutes.

Transfer the sauce to a blender and add 1/2 cup of water. Blend until smooth. With the machine on, add another 1/2 cup of water. Scrape the sauce into the saucepan and simmer over low heat for 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until chilled.

Squeeze lemon over the shrimp and serve with the sauce and more lemon wedges.